Pufferfish

Pufferfish are known for being very intelligent and have been known to recognize their feeder. Pufferfish get their name as they can puff up their bodies when they feel threatened. And while no one can deny how adorable pufferfish are when they are all puffed up, you should avoid this from happening to your fish.  Pay special attention to prevent your pufferfish from ingesting air when transferring it from an acclimation tank into the main display tank. Transfer your fish using a container full of water instead of a net. 

Saltwater pufferfish grow rather large, and while they look cute and smiley on the surface, pufferfish are considered semi-aggressive and are known to nip on tank mates’ fins. It’s best to keep pufferfish in a fish-only with live rock aquarium, with tank mates of similar size and temperament. When choosing tank mates, pick other semi-aggressive fish like Triggerfish, Harlequin wrasse, or other larger saltwater fish that can stand up against the pufferfish.  We do not recommend keeping pufferfish with smaller and timid fish like cardinals or gobies. Keep your pufferfish in a large saltwater aquarium of at least 180 gallons or larger, as aggression between fish can be amplified in smaller tanks.

Pufferfish will pick on corals and are not considered reef safe. To ensure your pufferfish stay happy and healthy, you want to feed them a varied diet of meaty foods, such as chopped seafood, multiple times a day. Since pufferfish have teeth, they must also be fed foods with a shell to keep them from overgrowing. You can buy frozen foods like clams on the half shelf so the pufferfish can work on removing the food from it and wear down their teeth in the process. A cautionary note, since all puffers have teeth, they can and will easily chew any wires within their reach in the aquarium.